Stamping device



v H. E. EDWARDS ET AL I ,4

Sept. 25, 1934.

STAMPING DEVICE Filed April 6, 1951 Patented Sept. 25, I934 UNITED STATES STAMPING DEVICE Herbert E. Edwards, Brookline, and George S. Tolman, Jr., Braintree, Mass., assignors, to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 6, 1931, Serial No. 527,998

13 Claims. (01. 101 e7s) in Width at the mid-portion thereof, thereby This invention relates to stamping devices and. is herein illustrated as embodied in a device adapted for decorating the soles of shoes.

After a shoe has been substantially completed and is ready to be packed for shipment, the sole may be decorated with a design of any chosen configuration by means of an arcuate-shaped stamping device which is rolled. along the bottom of the shoe. Such stamping devices have 6 usually been provided with a shoulder slightly curved transversely so that the stamp may be brought close to the breast of the heel of the shoe and then rolled toward the toe end of the shoe to decorate the whole sole. In order to 15 equalize the pressure transversely of the bottom of the shoe and ensure an even imprint, the carrier of such a stamping device is usually provided with a circumferential depression so that j a cross-section taken axially through the stamp- 20 ing device shows a slightly curved depressed surface simulating the transverse curvature of the shank portion of a shoe. Many factories desire to utilize a large number of such stamping devices and to change the design frequently.

Accordingly, the invention in one of its aspects resides in a stamping device in which a resilient stamp illustrated'as having a sponge rubber support is detachably secured to a carrier by means of a non-stretchable backing having, as herein 30 illustrated, projecting ends provided with securing means, so that one carrier may be made to serve for a large number of stamps. In the illustrated form of the invention the stamp is provided with a canvas backing having projecting terminals in which there are provided eyelets for co-operation with suitable studs upon the carrier.

When such interchangeable stamping devices are used with carriers having circumferential depressions to enable the stamps more readily to coact with the transversely curved bottoms of shoes, there is difiiculty in causing the unstretchable backing member to conform closely to the carrier. In view of the foregoing and in accord- 5 ance with a feature of the invention, the spacing between the securing means on the illustrated backing member is just sufficient to reach along the depressed portion of the carrier between the securing means thereon, whereby the act of securing the backing member in place serves to pull the resilient stamping member into the depressed portion of the carrier. As herein illustrated the backing member is of canvas, substantially coextensive with the stamping member at the ends thereof, and greatly reduced allowing stretching of the lateral edges of the stamp.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood from the following illustration taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bottom of a shoe and our novel stamping device as it is being applied to decorate the shoe;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of a shoe together with a fragment of a stamping device showing how it may be brought close to thebreast of the heel; and l Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the same device removed from its carrier and illustrating the formation of the backing.

When it is desired to decorate the bottom of ashoe 12 the latter is supported in inverted position and a previously inked stamping device 14 is rolled along the bottom of the shoe to apply thereto the design formed upon the resilient stamp 16 secured to such a device. This stamp 16 is a molded rubber die made as are most rubber stamps in any usual and suitable manner and is provided with any desired design, and is mounted upon a resilient support 18 of sponge rubber on the innersurface of which is a continuous film or tegument 20 of rubber. To this tegument 20 there is attached as by means of cement a backing 22. The backing 22 may conveniently be constructed of rubberized canvas which may berattached to the stamp either by the use of cement or by vulcanization or in any other well-known manner. The canvas backing has projecting terminal portions 24 provided with reinforcements 26 in which have been inserted eyelets 28.

To facilitate handling the stamp and the application thereof to the sole of the shoe, we have provided an arcuate carrier 30 curved circumferentially about an axis in line with which are handles 32. This arcuate carrier is cut away to form a recess 33 adjacent to which is positioned an abrupt shoulder 34 upon the stamp which is curved slightly so that it maybe brought close to the breast of the heel 35 of the shoe 12. It will be noted that the exact curvature of the arcuate surface 36 of the carrier 30 is not of any great importance so long as said surface is longer than the distance from the breast of the heel to the tip of the toe of the largest shoe which is to be decorated. Preferably, however, the arcuate surface 36 is provided with a central depression so that a section taken axially through the stamp 16 will be curved to correspond substantially with the transverse curvature of the shoe bottom 10. In this cut-away portion 33 the carrier is provided with studs 38 over which the eyeleted ends of the backing 22 are positioned as the stamp 16 is wrapped around the carrier 30. The backing 22, although substantially coextensive with the stamp 16 at its ends, is reduced in width or cut away until it is no wide'r than a narrow strap at 40 near its central portion and the distance be; tween respective eyelets 28 is equal to the distance between the studs 38 measured around the arouate surface of the carrier 30 at the bottom of the depression therein. Thus, in order'to' 'secure the stamp and its backing to the carrier, it is, necessary to draw the backing taut, fitting closely in the depression. At the sametime the fact that the backing is cut away at allows the margins of the stamp to stretch as required by the larger peripheries of the carrier at'i'ts e'nds'.

When it is desired to decorate a shoe the selected stamp 16 is applied to a carrier 30 by wrappingi t around the sam anu' atta'chi'hg'the eyeleted ends of the backing 32 to th'e"st1.1d's 38 of the carrier. The stamping device is then inked, as by'rolling italo'ng' a suitable inked pad, and applied to the bottom of a shoe. The shoulder 34 of the stamp is brought against the breast of the heel and the operator grasps the handles 32 rolling the stampforwardly over the sole or the Shoe- Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-- ent of the United States is: T

lfln cornb'ination, 'a non-cylindrical carrier having a concave surface, a resilient stamp, a non-stretchable fabric backing attached to the stamp and being substantially narrower than said stamp, and rneans for "securing said backing detachablyto said" carrier.

2 Ir 1' combination, a carrier having a concave surface, a flexible stamp substantially covering said surface, a resilient support for said stamp, a'fabr i c backing attached to only a'fractional portion ofsaid resilient support, and means engaging said backingfor detachably securing said stamp to said'carr'i'er'.

3. In co "binaasn, a non-cylindrical carrier having andncurved'surface, a resilient stamp, for securing said resilient stamp to said carrier comprising'a' non-stretchable fabric backing constructedand' arranged to'draw the ame into eng'agement with said'in cul'ved surface and having projecting ends provided with atta h n 4f In combination, a carrier having a concave surface, a resilient stamp, 'a non stret'chable canvas backing aasehee'tq "the'stamp and having a s b tantiall smd i tired th said st and means for securing said backing detachably to said carrier comprising-studs and eyelets adapted to be iiesi 'isne' 'Q ii i 5. In combination, a' carrier, a rubber stamp adapted to be'supported by said carrier, a spongerubher support for said anda canvas backins secured t sa p n ub tp b a ,ed to be attached'tds'aid carrier.

6. In combination, a carrier having-projecting studs, ambb rstamp adapted 'to be supported by said carrier, asp'onge-rubber support for said stamp, anda canvas backing secured to said sponge-rubber support adapted to be attached to said carrier, said canvas backing having eyelets for engagement with the projecting studs upon the carrier.

7. In combination, a rigid carrier having a curved face one portion of which is depressed, a flexible stamp adapted to be wrapped around said curved carrier and secured thereto, and a non-stretchable backing attached to the stamp for drawing the stamping member intothe depression of the carrier.

8. In combination, a carrier having a depressign, a resilient stamp, and means for drawing saidstamp into said depression and securing it to the carrier comprising securing means upon the, carrier. and a non-stretchable backing attached to said stamp and provided with securing means for co-operation with the securing means on the carrier, the spacing of said cooperative 'se'c'uring' means permitting attachment ofthe stamp to the carrier only when the stamp has been drawn into the depression.

"9. In "comb nation; a carrier having a curved supportingkurface" a midportion"of which is depressd bfeheath the 'eaipbiruma seem-1n; means "u on 'carifier' adjacent to said depressicn," a resilient stam and a non-"stretch able"ba'ckihg"attach ed tosaidst'amp arid pr Vided with' spaced securing for 66-613 anon with'the se urmgmea 'si onth'e' barrier; the spacing" '01?"thesecuringrneans on said 'bac' ing being" substantially equal to the "disltancb tween the securing means'upon th'ecarriermeasured along the bottom or the depression whereby said backing draws the stamp into thedepr'ession. 10.' In combination} a" carrier havingspacec attaching mem ers, the supporting Surface or a said carrier'b'e'ing' arcuate' 'a'nd' provided with a depression extending circumferentially thereof, a resilient stamp adapted"to'becurvedai ound said carrierfa'n'd a non s'tre'tchable 'backiiigse} cured to said stamp andprovided with'te'rrni- 3":

nal attaching devices constructed"andarranged to comperate' withthe attaching means on the carrier, said backing having a less "width along aportion of its lengthso that the mid portion of the stamp may-be drawn snuglyi nto thedepressed portion'of thfe' carrier."

11. In combination, a carrier'liaving an armate supporting surface thecentralportion of which is depressed, a' resilient stamp adapted to be secured 'to said carrier," a non-stretchable backing secured to" said stamp, and means for securing the backing to the carrier, said" backing having wideterminal portions and a narrow intermediate portion whereby the" resilient stamping "member may be drawn into the d'e"-' prcssion' of the carrier as the backing is attached to the securing means.

12. In combination, a stamp having a resilient surface, a sponge-rubber backing 'for said stamp the exposed surface 'of which is covered witha tegurnent of rubber, and a non-stretchable backing secured to said stamp by attachment'to said te'gun'ient.

'13. In combination, a carrier, a resilient stamp, a flexible non stret'chable backing therefor having" its terminal substantially as wideas the stamp and 'its' mid-portion of less width, and means for securing the backing to the carrier; HERBERT E. EDWARDS.

GEORGE S. TOLMAN', JR; 

